Positive Health Online

Abstract

PIETRI and colleagues, Structure et Reactivite des Especes Paramagnetiques, CNRS URA 1412, Universite de Provence, Marseille France write that a growing body of evidence supports the trigger role of free radicals in the delayed functional and metabolic myocardial recovery following cardiopulmonary (heart/lung) bypass (CPB) in humans. This opens the field to specific therapies. The authors conducted a clinical study to evaluate whether Ginkgo biloba extract reduced the extent of CPB and reperfusion-induced lipid peroxidation, ascorbate depletion, tissue necrosis and cardiac dysfunction. @m: 15 patients who were undergoing aortic valve replacement received either orally administered EGb 761, a Ginkgo biloba extract (n = 8) or a matching placebo (n = 7) for 5 days prior to surgical intervention. Plasma samples were obtained at various stages of the operation and up to 8 days postoperatively. @r: Following aortic unclamping, EGb 761 inhibited the transcardiac release of thiobarbituric acid-reactive species and attenuated the early decrease in dimethylsulfoxide/ascorbyl free radical levels. EGb 761 also significantly reduced the more delayed leakage of myoglobin and had an almost significant effect upon ventricular myosin leakage 6 days postoperatively. Clinical outcome of recovery of treated patients was improved but not significantly compared with the untreated patients. @c: The results demonstrate the usefulness of adjuvant EGb 761 therapy in limiting oxidative stress in cardiovascular surgery and suggest the possible role of highly bioavailable terpene constituents of Ginkgo biloba.

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References

Pietri S et al. Ginkgo biloba extract (EBg 761) pretreatment limits free radical-induced oxidative stress in patients undergoing coronary bypass surgery. Cardiovasc Drugs Ther 11(2): 121-31. Apr 1997.